The "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous states, "the idea that somehow,
someday, the alcoholic will control their drinking is the great
obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion
is astonishing. Many pursue it to the gates of insanity and death. We
learned, some of us through relapse, that we had to fully concede to our
innermost self that we are alcoholic...The delusion that we are like
other people has to be smashed."We learned through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous that we must admit we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable. We must concede to our innermost self that we are alcoholic and, yes, we must admit complete defeat. Once we have done this we have THE FOUNDATION FOR PROGRESS, in the actual program of Alcoholics Anonymous, upon which we can build a real and honest life. This life of pure contribution allows us to be who we were created to be, thus restoring our self-esteem and allowing others to be themselves around us without any judgement on our part. Our real and honest life will be ours to live, measured in and by the love we give away.
Written by Armand
Edited by Caitlin Alexandra
It was necessary for me to concede complete defeat in a deeper way. As alcoholism was only a symptom of my real problem, it followed that admitting that I was a defeated drinker was also only a symptom of a deeper reality. I had become a defeated person through and through. My essence had been defeated along with the manifestation of that defeat - my drinking. I had to concede and admit that, not only was I a defeated drinker, I was a defeated me. That truth was uncovered and made apparent by incorporating The Twelve Steps into my daily living. In and within that process, I found The Great Reality deep down inside me, The Power Within me that had always been my real essence. I literally found The Foundation for Progress in a place from which I could make progress. That Power is within me and within all of us.
ReplyDeleteMichael we had to admit to our innermost self that we are alcoholic. The Big Book says "this is the First Step in recovery.' As you wrote "It was necessary for me to concede complete defeat in a deeper way."...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of how my foundation was built I think of the beginnings when it was starting to form. It felt like one of those bridges on the playground that, when trying to cross, sways side to side no matter how slow or fast or small or big you are.
ReplyDeleteMy life swayed from side to side as I attempted to build something I could stand upon. I couldn’t do it by myself, as I had to stand upon what was mine and what I was given or it all dismantled beneath and around me, and my disease given the chance to rule. I did it with the highest power I knew there was and is. I did it with God. He was always the foundation upon which my own was built. He was the solidity in the nothingness upon which the boards eventually laid. It wasn’t until I trusted that the progress I was making was real and was making a difference that I committed to it. Once I committed, going back was only a choice when I looked back at the nothingness or ahead at the unbuilt space I still had to construct. Going back was giving into myself. Going back was relying only on me… which failed every single time.
Trusting the Power enough to move forward was progress. Trusting meant I woke up and I gave my day to the Lord. It meant letting go of ME as I knew ME, and allowing the spirit and the soul in which the spirit existed to thrive as it was meant to. I had to pray. A lot. I still do. I always will. To remind myself every possible waking moment I have that I am here for a purpose that is everlasting, that is at times unknown, but that is indeed a purpose.
Caitlin Nice to have you back. The First Step of AA is admitting to our innermost self that we are alcoholic. Once done we move on in the program and begin trusting in God to restore us to sanity. Than a decision is made in Three to turn our will and our life over to the care of God. Along the way we are deepening our relationship with God which must occur if we are to recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. But that in itself will be of little consequence until we admit to our innermost self that we are alcoholic...Thank you so much...Armand
DeleteThis Is From A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
ReplyDeleteHumility, for this gratefully recovering alcoholic, was and now is the only foundation for progress... It is no coincidence that the 12 Steps of AA are recorded by the founders in the order in which they are presented and that their universal experience of that Divinely inspired journey was one and the same. If we follow their path and keep an open mind we will soon discover that each and every "suggestion" has been written by the finger of God from eternity past and is lovingly brought to life through His person and Spirit by the direct testimony simply yet profoundly contained in these Steps.
This undeserved invitation for forgiveness and renewal always begins with a call for the humble admission of our present condition, commonly fueled by an underlying desperate desire for escape. For who among us could admit we were powerless over anything let alone our delusional dependence upon that same poisonous substance we had grown to love as a much needed propellent for misguided appetites of a depraved heart, mind and spirit.
Before the first books were ever written chronicling their imperfect journey along that perfect plan, viz. the 12 Steps of AA, they were admittedly guided by the greatest story ever told, the Bible. But they knew that few respond to the impersonal witness of the Living Word delivered by those who never experienced that Devine reprieve from the dungeon of hell called alcoholism and thus, the fellowship was born.
Simply Consider 2 Chronicles 7:14-16, written three thousand years ago: 14 "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually."
Even a quick study of these three verses reveals in its entirety the spiritual process of all 12 Steps of AA. Is not this "house" spoken of in these passages the collective hearts and minds of those who have followed this path and invited Him within to eternally reside? Just as a shallow practice of the Steps will soon reveal that resistance to these principals is futile so to will even the shallowest attempts at surrender bring blessings that far surpass anything that we could have hoped for or imagined.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). Yes, the Author has personally declared not only the solution to our problem but the blessing that follows. May you find Him now.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic Yes it does take humility to admit to one's innermost self that they are alcoholic. Once having integrated The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous into our lives in such a way that they become our life brings an undeserved grace into our lives that we are than given the power to share with others...Thanks...Armand
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